9 25. By a letter dated 3 October 2011, the Registrar acknowledged receipt of the 2nd Applicant’s Reply to the Respondent’s Response to the 2nd Application. 26. By separate letters dated 17 October 2011, the Registrar informed the Parties of the Court’s decision to consolidate the Applications, and sent them the Order for Consolidation. In the letter to the Respondent, the Registrar also forwarded the 2nd Applicant’s Reply to the Respondent’s Response to the 2nd Application. 27. On 28 October 2011, the 1st Applicants filed with the Registry of the Court their Reply to the Respondent’s Response to the 1st Application. 28. By a letter dated 1 November 2011, the Registrar acknowledged receipt of the 1st Applicants’ Reply to the Respondent’s Response to the 1st Application. 29. By a letter dated 5 November 2011, the Registrar served the Respondent with a copy of the 1st Applicants’ Reply to the Respondent’s Response to the 1st Application. 30. At its 23rd Ordinary Session held from 5 to 16 December 2011, the Court decided that the pleadings in the consolidated applications were closed and that a public hearing on the applications would be held during